What is Trauma?
 Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.
It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.
This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding
Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.
As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.
Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.
Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions. |
Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor
DefinitionA skin biopsy is a procedure where a small piece of abnormal skin is removed for testing. There are three main types of skin biopsies: - Shave biopsy—outer part of affected area is removed.
- Punch biopsy—a small cylinder of skin is removed using a punch tool.
- Excisional biopsy—an entire area of abnormal skin is removed.
Reasons for ProcedureA skin biopsy is used to test an area of abnormal skin. If possible the entire area will be removed during biopsy. A skin biopsy may be done to diagnose: - Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections
- Cancer
or benign skin growths
-
Inflammatory skin disorders, such as
psoriasis
Skin biopsy may also be done to: - Make sure a tumor was completely removed—by testing remaining skin
- Monitor the effect of a treatment
Possible ComplicationsComplications are rare. However, no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a skin biopsy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications such as: - Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Scarring
- Nerve damage
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include: - Smoking
- Immunosuppression
- Bleeding disorders
- Circulatory problems
What to ExpectNo special preparation is needed for this procedure. Local anesthesia may be used. It will numb the area being treated. The involved area will be prepared. The skin will be cleaned. Medicine will be applied to the skin or injected to numb the area. The exact steps will depend on the type of biopsy: - Shave biopsy—A thin slice of the skin will be removed. It is done with a special razor that "shaves" off a piece of skin.
- Punch biopsy—A special tool is used. The tip of the tool is pushed into your skin. As it is pushed down, the tool will be rotated into the skin. A circular sample of skin will then be cut free. This biopsy provides a sample from all of the layers of the skin. Stitches may be needed to close the hole.
- Excision biopsy—The entire area of abnormal skin will be removed with a scalpel. This biopsy will make a larger and deeper hole in the skin. Stitches will be placed to close the hole left in the skin.
After the procedure, a clean dressing will be placed over the area. There may be some pain and discomfort after the procedure. Your doctor will recommend medication to minimize this discomfort. Keep the biopsy area clean and dry. Keep it covered with a sterile bandage for 1-2 days. Stitches will be left in the skin for 3-14 days, depending on where they are located. Ask your doctor when you can expect the results of the biopsy. Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water. Pat the wound dry after you have washed it with a mild soap. Be sure to follow your doctor's
instructions. Call Your DoctorAfter arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs: - Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
- Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
- Any new symptoms
In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away. Pickett H. Shave and punch biopsy for skin lesions. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(9):995-1002.
Skin biopsy. Nemours Kidshealth website. Available at:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/skin_biopsy.html. Updated July 2012. Accessed March 28, 2013.
Skin biopsy. DermNet NZ website. Available at:
http://www.dermnetnz.org/procedures/biopsy.html. Updated April 14, 2012. Accessed March 28, 2012.
6/3/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/: Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, Kelly S, Wu P, Ebbert JO. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.e8. Last reviewed February 2013 by Brian Randall, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved. |
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